'Community' Star Donald Glover Launching FX Comedy Series 'Atlanta'

Now that showrunner Dan Harmon has made his return to Community after spending a season away, the future of the show rests crucially upon whether or not it comes back strong in season 5. But for star Donald Glover, a departure from the show seems to be in the cards no matter what happens after season 5.

It was recently confirmed that Glover had renegotiated his contract with Sony Pictures Television and will only appear in five episodes of season 5 in order to give him time to concentrate on his other pursuits. These include his acting career, obviously, but also his stand-up comic performances and his hip-hop career under the stage name Childish Gambino.

All three of these interests are now set to come together, according to an article on Deadline that reveals Glover's next major project - his own TV show. Atlanta will be a semi-autobiographical comedy based around Glover's own experiences growing up in Atlanta, and will be set against the backdrop of the city's music scene. The pitch was courted by several different networks, including NBC, but Atlanta eventually went to FX since the network offered Glover the flexibility he'd need to accommodate music tours into the schedule.

Glover will write, executive produce and star in Atlanta, though the actual name of the show may still be subject to change. Prior to his regular role on Community, Glover was part of the writing team for 30 Rock and has also written and starred in a number of sketches and short films.

The writer and actor's previous credits definitely make Atlanta a show worth keeping an eye on and checking out when it airs, especially since it will mark the first time that Glover will be tested as a showrunner. The self-insertion aspect of the premise means that it could run the risk of becoming a vanity project or a vehicle for promoting his career as Childish Gambino. However, on the other side of the coin, Glover's familiarity with the world in which the show is set could make for some strong comedy writing.

Are you interested in seeing Glover break away from his Troy persona and take charge of his own comedy show?

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Atlanta is still in early development, but we'll keep you updated on its progress.